The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-12-08

ton, the fact is not overlooked that
competition among our domestic pro-
ducers sometimes has the effect of
keeping the price of their products be-
low the highest limit allowed by such
duty, but it is notorious that this COM
/ petition is too often strangled by COM
| binatiOns quite prev at this time
and frequently called trusts, which
have for their object the
regulation of the supply and
price of commodities made and sold by
members of the combination. The
people can hardly hope for any consid-
Grafton in the operations of these sell
fish schemes. If, however, in the abb
| Sence of such combination healthy
and free competition reduces the price
| of any particular dutiable article of
which it might otherwise reach under
our tariff laws and if with such reduc-
ed price its manufacture continues to
| thrive, it is entirely evident that one
thing has been discovered which should
be carefully scrutiniZed in an exert to
reduce a taxation. The necessity of
combination to maintain the price of
| any commodity to the tariff point furn-
ishes proof that some ons is willing to
| accept lower prices for such commodity
| and that such prices are remuneraGlVe
/ and lower prices produced by competi-
lions prove the same thing. Thus
| where either of these conditions exist,
case would seem to be presented for
an easy reduction of taxation.
The considerations which have been
presented touching our tariff laws are
intended only to enforce an earnest
recommendation that the surplus
revenues of the government be pre-
vented by the reduction of our custom
duties, and at the same time to
emphasize suggestion that in ac-
comprising this purpose, we may dis
charge double duty to our people by
granting to them a measure of relief
from tariff taXtation in quarters
where it is most needed and from
sources which it can be most fairly
and justly accorded. Nor can the
presentation made of such con-
siderations be with any degree of fair
ness regarded as evidence of unfriend-
illness toward our manufacturing
interests, or of any lack of ap-
probation of their value and i'm
perativeness. These interests con-
stitute a leading and most substantial
element of our national greatness and
furnish the proud proof of our
country's progress. But if in the
emergency that presses us on, our
manufacturers are asked to sur
and to avert disaster their patriotism,
as we'll as a grateful recognition of the
advantages already afforded. should
lead them to willingly cooperate. No
demand is made that they shall forego
all the benefits of governmental regard;
but they cannot fail to be admOnished
of their duty, as well as their enlight-
ened self-intereSt and safety, when
they are reminded of the fact that a
financial m
tie present condition tends, affords no
greater shelter or protection to our
manufactures than to our other i'm
pOrtant enterprises. Opportunity for
safe, careful and deliberate reform is
now offered; ond none of us should be
unmindful of the time when an abused
and irritated people, needless of those
who have resisted timely and reason
able relief, may insist upon a radical
and sweeping rectificatfon of their
wrongs. The difficulty atten ding a
wise and fair revision of our tariff laws
is not undereStimated. 1t will
require, on the part of congress,
great labor and care. and especially a
broad and national contemplation of
the subject and patriotic disregard
of such local and selfish claims as are
unreasonable and reckless of the well
fare of the entire country. Under our
present laws more than four thousand
articles are subject to duty. Many of
these do not in any way compete with
our own manufactures and many are
hardly worth attention as subjects of
revenue. a considerable reduction
can be made in the aggregate by
adding them to the free list. The
taxation of luxuries presents no fea-
lures of hardship, but the necessities
of life used and consumed by all the
people, the duty upon which adds to
the cost of living in every home should
be greatly cheapened. The radical re-
duction of the duties imposed upon
raw material used in manufactures or
it's free importation is of course an i'm
portant factor in any effort to reduce
the price of those neceSSarieS. 1t
would not only relieve them from the
increased cost caused by the tariff on
such material but the manufactured
product being thus cheapened, that
part of the tariff now laid upon such
product as compensation to our man
ufactures for the present price of raw
material could be accordingly mOdi-
| fed. Such reduction, or free importa-
ton would serve beside to largely re-
duce the revenue. 1t is not apparent
how such change can have any in
On the contrary, it would appear to
give them better chance in foreign
markets, with the manufacturers of
other countries who cheaper their
wares by free material. Thus our peo-
pie might have the opportunity of ex-
tending their sales beyond the limits
of home consumption, saving them
from the depressing interruption in
business and loss caused by a glutted
domestic market, and affording theil
employees more certain and steady
labor with its resulting quiet and con
tentment. The question thus impera-
lively presented for solution should bS
approached in a spirit higher thar
partisanShip and considered in the
light of that regard for patriotic duty
which should characterize the action Of
those intrusted with the veal of {
confiding people. But the obligation
to declared party policy and principle
is not wanting to urge prompt and eff
fectiVe action. Both of the politica
parties now represented in the govern
ment, have, by repeated and authori
tatiYe declarations condemned thu
condition of our laws which permit the
collection from the people of necessar!
revenue and have in the most solemn
manner promised its connection, ant
neither as citizens or partizans are on
countrymen in a mood to condune tn,
deliberate violation of these pledges.
Our progress toward a wise conclu
sion will not be improved by dwelIIn,
upon the theories of protection AM
free trade. This saVorS too much OF
banding epithetS. 1t is a condition
which confronts us, not theory. Re
: lief from this condition may involve
slight reduction of the advantage
which we award our home productions
: but the entire withdrawal of such ad
vantages should not be contemplated
The question of free trade is absolutel
irrelevant, and the persistent clair
/ made in certain quarters that all effort
4 to relieve the people from unjust an
\ unnecessary taxation are schemes Q
5 so-called free-traders, is misehievou
{ and far removed from any considers
: ton for the public good. The simpl
e and plain duty which we owe to tn
d people is to reduce taxation to the me-
e eSSary expenses of an economical az
e ministratiOn of the government, and I
j restore to the business of the countI
l. the money which we hold in the treal
e ury through the perversion of govern
e mental powers These things can an
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